Quick Study: How To Keep Your Desk Tidy

Arti Patel
Updated

Quick Study [kwik stuhd-ee]: The Huffington Post Canada's tips to make your life a little sweeter, five minutes at a time. Think of it as a cheatsheet for your general well-being.

We're checking out how to take a break from your busy holiday schedule and relax -- in unexpected ways.

THE EXPERT:

If you notice your co-workers' desks looking a bit more organized today, they could be taking part of'National Clean Off Your Desk Day,' a day to prioritize your tabletop first. We talked to professional organizer Nicki Parsons ofNeat Organizers,on simple ways to keep your office and work space tidy.

"Cleaning your drawers every several months is a great way to de-clutter. You can put dividers in your drawers, use trays and designate one section for pens, pencils and Post-It notes -- this is the first step."

Here are Parson's other tips to keep your office space at home and at work organized:

Find Homes For Your Smaller Supplies

Create homes for your supplies, says professional organizer Nicki Parsons of <a href="http://neatorganizers.com/about-us/" target="_hplink">Neat Organizers</a>. She recommends using containers for visibility and easy access.
Create homes for your supplies, says professional organizer Nicki Parsons of Neat Organizers. She recommends using containers for visibility and easy access.

The 'Three Tier System'

Have a paper tray and label the top tier 'Important,' the middle section 'To File,' and the last one 'To Read.' This is an easy way to organize your mail and files.
Have a paper tray and label the top tier 'Important,' the middle section 'To File,' and the last one 'To Read.' This is an easy way to organize your mail and files.

Keep Things At Your Fingertips

Keep your essentials at your desk and don't over crowd it. Keep supplies, pads and a mug at your fingertips.
Keep your essentials at your desk and don't over crowd it. Keep supplies, pads and a mug at your fingertips.

Create A Space For Everyone

If your home has one office space, create a surrounding that everyone can work in -- yes, even the kids. Have markers, pencils and crayons in one drawer, for example.
If your home has one office space, create a surrounding that everyone can work in -- yes, even the kids. Have markers, pencils and crayons in one drawer, for example.

HUFFPOST SECRETS:

But before you get your Martha Stewart on, reporter Violet Owens ofyourbeauty.comtells us why itsimportant to keep our desks clean and sanitizedin the first place.

Your desk may harbour 400 times more bacteria than -- wait for it -- the average toilet seat. Sixty four per cent of us clean these desktops once a month, or less. And before you get all judgey, think about it: How often do you really clean your desk, especially compared to say, your kitchen counters and dining room tables? Read thepost here.

WATCH:
And with your new and improved organized desk, make sure you keep your posture in mind for your overall health.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.